As Kate Manterfield and Marjorie Jones raised their glasses, they had more to toast than most.

Not only was it Kate's 90th birthday but the two women were marking a friendship that's lasted an incredible 80 years. The pair, born on the same street in 1920, met at Sunday School eight years later and Kate recalls: "We hit it off straight away. But I never imagined we'd be sharing jokes more than 80 years later."

They loved going to dances in their home city of Sheffield and Marjorie, 89, says: "We had such fun, eyeing up the local boys and giggling when one of them asked us to dance."

Within a few years, both women had married and become mothers - Kate had a son, Ralph, now 65, and Marjorie a girl, Glenys, 59.

When Marjorie's husband Elwyn returned from the war, he struggled to find work and they emigrated to Canada.

"It was so hard saying goodbye," says Marjorie. "I cried and cried and wrote to Kate every Sunday." It was another 12 years, in 1964, before Marjorie took out a $1,000 loan so she and her family could fly to Sheffield.

"It was so emotional," she says. "We hugged and hugged as though we'd never let go. Then we chatted as though we'd only seen each other yesterday."

Then two years later, Kate saved up £100 for flights to Canada with husband Les. She says: "It was the first time I'd been out of England. I was really nervous when I got on the plane, wondering how it would stay in the air. But it was worth all the worry just to see Marjorie again. She took me to Niagara Falls - and the whole time we never stopped chatting."

By having two jobs, as a hairdresser and typist, Kate found she had enough cash to visit Marjorie more regularly.

But in 1991 her husband Les died from cancer and she says: "Having Marjorie as a shoulder to cry on helped so much."

Sadly, only three years later Kate returned the favour when Elwyn died of a heart attack. After the double tragedy, the two pals made a pact - to take it in turns to see each other every year.

Kate says: "In many ways losing our partners spurred us on a bit. We weren't going to mope about for years. Instead we decided to travel."

This month, despite her failing eyesight and poor mobility, Marjorie flew back to Sheffield with her daughter Glenys for Kate's 90th birthday celebrations.

She says: "There wasn't a chance I was going to miss Kate's big day. Of course, we still had a bicker about who was sitting where and what we should wear, but it couldn't have been happier."

Kate adds: "We have the odd tiff, but we've spent 80 years having fun together. We know how to have a laugh - and that's what keeps our friendship alive."